Lighting arrangement



April 1960 B. GONZALEZ ARlAS ETAL 2,931,893

LIGHTING ARRANGEMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 21, 1958 INVENTORS MW Mm U 40 ZY M m N ON GE m we BO ATTORNEYS A nl 5, 1960 B. GONZALEZ ARIAS ETAL 2,931,893

LIGHTING ARRANGEMENT Filed Feb. 21, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Bemsuo GONZALEZ Y Anus ROBERTO MENDOZA Y QUIJANO ATTORNEYS known fact that upon entering a dark room one must United States Patent 2,931,893 p LIGHTING ARRANGEMENT Benigno Gonzalez Arias and Havana, Cuba Application February 21,1958, Serial No. 716,570 Claims priority, application Cuba November '1, 1951.

1 Claim. (Cl. 240-44 Roberto Mendoza Quljano,

p 2,931,893 PatentedApr. 5, 1960 of the base, two top portions 6 and 7, and straps 10a, 10b. The base In is composed of a front sole portion 15 and a rear heel portion 9. In the illustrated embodiment, the front sole and rear heel portionsare shown as 5 being integral with each other, it being understood, however, that the invention is equally applicable to a shoe, the base of which is composed of a sole extending the entire length of the shoe and a heel which is aflixed to the rear'portion of the sole in a manner well known in the art, or to a shoe, the base of which is composed simply of a fiat sole.

The illuminating means include a source of electricalenergy in the form of two batteries 3, a lamp or bulb 2, and an electrical switch 5, all connected in series-circuit T Present invention relates to lighting mangememswith each other by electrical conductors 4. These comto walk through dark places lighting fixtures, flashlights It is also a often One often has occasion at a time when no permanent D or other light sources are readlly available.

grope for a light switch and walk safely about the room. Furthermore, situations arise when one wishes to find his way in a dark room but does not wish to turn on a bright light, even though permanent lighting fixtures, flashlights or other light source are available example, when one enters a room in which another person is sleeping.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a lighting arrangement which overcomes the above disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a lighting arrangement which may very easily be kept on ones person at all times.

It is yet another object of the present invention to probe put into operation.

The objects of the present invention further include the provision of a lighting arrangement which weighs very little, occupies no conventional pocket space, and is effectively concealed from view.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a lighting arrangement which is capable of fulfilling the above requirements and at the same time is capable of being mass-produced at very low cost.

With the above objects in view, mainly consists in a lighting arrangement which comprises an article of footwear and illuminating means on the article of footwear for illuminating an object or area which the wearer wishes to illuminate. The term footponents are so disposed as to be virtually concealed from view so as not to affect the appearance of the shoe.

The bulb 2 is positioned between two top portions 6 before one can mm on the light and 7 of the leather or material from which the top part of the shoe is made, or, if desired, on a strip of the upper part of the shoe. One part 'of the portion 6 is shown shortened and raised so as more clearly to indicate the position of the bulb 2, the extreme end of which and in p p Working condition for remains uncovered so that the light rays emitted thereby can be projected.

The conductors 4 are arranged between theupper surface of the base 1a and the insole 10, and are clamped or otherwise secured to the former.

The batteries are arranged within a recess 8 whicl: opens at the upper surface of the base 1a, suitable clamping contactors 8a and 8b being provided for mechanically securing and electrically connecting the batteries. Ir order to afford ready access to the batteries, the lIlSOlt vide a lighting arrangemen which. may easily and rapidly 10 is formed with a cut-out 11 which is in registratioi easily. If desired, the cover 12 may be hidden from vier by covering the insole 10 with a conventional, thin sol (not shown) which can be easily lifted when necessary.

The switch 5 is arranged in a recess 13, a portion 13 of which is elongated. The purpose of the portion 13 the N invemion is to accommodate an elongated stem 14 which is pa:

of the switch 5 and constitutes a switch actuator. Th recess portion 13a opens at the outer surface 1b of ti base In and since the stem 14 extends beyond this cut surface 1b, a portion 14a of the switch actuator is free.

as used throughout the t. Specification and accessible to the wearer of the shoe 1, so that the bu' claims, is intended to include any and all types of mens, womens, boys and girls shoes, boots, slippers, moccasins, overshoes or other articles that are worn on the foot.

Other and additional objects and advantages of the present invention, apart from the ones will appear more fully from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a lighting arrangement according to the present invention as it appears in conjunction with a ladys shoe, the upper part of which shoe is shown detached from the lower part or base for clarity of illustration;

Fig.2 is a top view of the lower part of the shoe shown in Fig.1; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a lighting arrangementv according to the present invention as it appears in conjunction with a mans shoe.

Referring now to the drawings, and to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof in particular, there is shown an article of footwear in the form of a ladys shoe 1 having a lower part or base In, an insole 10 superposed upon the upper surface described above, energize the illuminating means simply by turning tl stem 14. Alternatively, the internal construction of ti switch 5 may be such that the stem 14 is mounted f reciprocating movement and is continuously spring-bias in outward direction. In that case, the switch may of a type which moves from on position to off po tion, or vice versa, upon each inward depression and st sequent release of the stem, so that the wearer of t shoe may operate the switch either by manually depre ing and thereafter releasing the stem, or by placing t free end of the stem against an abutment surface-whi may be a base board, a piece of furniture or the floor and moving the foot first toward and then away from st abutment surface. a

-In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the article footwear is in the form of a mans shoe 1' having a C ventional base 1a, composed of a sole 15' and a heel within recesses of which base the batteries and swi (not shown in Fig. 3) of the illuminating means are arranged, substantially as described above in connection with the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The shoe further includes decorative or utilitarian lacing 18, at each free end of which a separate bulb 2' is mounted, the electrical connection being established by wires which pass through the laces. The two bulbs may be connected in parallel with each other or, if the source of electrical energy includes batteries of appropriate voltage rating, in series with each other and with the remainder of the electrical circuit.

It will be understood that by virtue of any of the abovedescribed arrangements, the wearer of the shoe may illuminate any desired object 'or area, such as the ground or floor ahead, simply by moving the foot so that the light rays emitted by the bulb or bulbs are oriented in the desired direction.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions and, accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is;

A lighting arrangement comprising, in combination: an article of footwear having a base formed with a recess which opens at the upper surface of said base and which is adapted to receive a source of electrical energy, clamping means for mechanically holding said source of electrical energy in said recess independently of the force exerted by the weight of the wearer of the article of footwear, an insole superposed upon said upper surface of said base, said insole being formed with a cut-out which Is in registration with said recess, cover means for closng said cut-out whenever desired thereby allowing said footwear may energize or recess to be covered and uncovered at will so as to permit ready access to said source of electrical energy, a lamp arranged on said article of footwear, and an electric switch carried by said article of footwear, said switch, lamp and source of electric energy being connected in circuit with each other to form an illuminating means energizable at the will of the wearer of the article of footwear to illuminate an object or area which the wearer wishes to illuminate, said switch including a switch actuator mounted on said article of footwear for reciprocating movement relative thereto between different positions in at least one of which at least a portion of said actuator protrudes beyond the outer surface of said article of footwear, said switch actuator being continuously urged into a position in which at least a portion thereof protrudes beyond the outer surface of said article of footwear and said switch being of a type which moves from on" position to o position, or vice versa, upon each inward depression and subsequent release of said switch actuator, whereby the wearer of the article of de-energizc said lamp by placing the free end of said protruding portion of said switch actuator against an abutment surface and moving the foot first toward and then away from such abutment surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS (Addition to 865,437) 

